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Post subject: Setup with 11's ?
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:37 am
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I recently purchased a telecaster American Special, which shipped with 9's.

I got some 11's and just need a bit of advise on the setup.

So, logic would say that with heavier gauge strings, I'd want to have less relief, however, as this is a new guitar, that likely hasn't been setup OR has been setup for 9's, what's the correlation between this and the bridge height?

The recommended height of the strings on the 17th fret, across all of them, is 1.6mm - but is this for all gauges of strings, or 9's ?

With the 11's on, it's currently around 2.3mm which is just a bit too high, however, lowering at the bridge results in some fret buzz on the higher strings at around 2.1mm.

Bottom line, should I adjust both the truss and the bridge height, or just one of them?

Also, with 11's, is 1.6mm at the 17 fret even possible without getting fret buzz?

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Setup with 11's ?
Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 8:34 am
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Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
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Location: SoCal, US
Published specifications are a guideline to get you started.
For example, published spec for 1st fret string height (nut slot depth) is .030" (0.76mm) for Gibson, but .020" (0.5mm) for Fender. Dan Erlewine likes to run .015" (0.38mm).
The same applies to neck relief and string action @ the 17th fret.
Some people will run the relief as flat as possible, only allowing enough so when the string is fretted at the 1st and last fret the string can audibly vibrate freely. Actual spec is, if I recall correctly, .012" (0.3mm)
Same for string height. 4/64 (.0625", 1.6mm) is a good ballpark to start with. I have some guitars that I can run a bit lower without buzzing, and some that need to be a little higher.

Assuming the neck is set up properly from the factory, you may need to add a little tension on the truss rod to compensate for the added tension of the heavier gauge strings. Then again, some have commented that Fender necks tend to be a little "flat" from the factory, so the heavier strings may be just enough to pull the neck into spec.
What I would do is string it up to tension and check the relief. If it has too much, then give the truss rod just enough to bring it into spec, then let it rest for a couple of days and re-check it.
Once that is done, verify nut slot depth (it's probably fine, and you shouldn't have to widen the slots unless you go to 12's or 13's).
Finally, set the 17th fret string action and adjust the intonation.

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Post subject: Re: Setup with 11's ?
Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 11:45 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
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Double post from the OP; https://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=116326


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